Students provide playhouses for military families

12/12/07

BELTON – Globs of blue paint drip from 2-year-old Reagan Clark’s tiny hands, but before the drops can amount to a puddle, he offers a high five to the blank canvas of his playhouse.

He admires his artwork with pride and repeats his mark two… three… four more times, then immediately whirls around with a wide grin and fresh paint on his face, ready to go back for more.

Only a few feet away, several children are following Reagan’s example as they decorate playhouses donated by University of Mary Hardin-Baylor students. 

UMHB students built and painted four playhouses for four military families from First Baptist Church in Belton, all with young children and all with fathers missing for the holidays. 

“It’s just going to make it a little brighter this Christmas with Dad not at home,” said Jennifer Larkin, a UMHB freshman from Flowermound. 

While students started painting the playhouses early in the day, they left enough to keep the children involved. 

For two hours Friday night, children were allowed to run free with only their imagination and handfuls of paint in mind. 

Students designed the playhouses based on the children’s favorite colors and interests. 

For the Clark family, that means blue and tractors. 

As Jennifer Clark watches her children, Reagan and 5-year-old Easton, decorate their playhouse, a wave of emotion overcomes her. 

Even though she wears a smile, tears cascade gently down her face. 

“How do you put into words the thoughtfulness?” she says as she wipes away the tears. 

“The thoughtfulness that someone thinks about me … why me?” Clark said. “It’s amazing.” 

This is the Clark family’s second time to be stationed in Fort Hood. With fingers crossed, Clark expects her husband to be home in January after a 15-month tour. 

“My kids are missing a whole lot with their dad, and I always wish I could do more,” Clark said. “I could’ve bought a playhouse, but I couldn’t put it together. I couldn’t paint it.”